Ted — we agree. In this context winning a ring (or rings) is absolutely a necessary condition. And, the odds of that don’t change substantially from one locale to another except for Miami (or some as yet to be named S&T). However, winning may not be a sufficient condition.

The problem with Miami is that it introduces some complications into the branding aspect of things for LeBron. The brand story LeBron would like to tell, judging by what we’ve seen so far, is pretty Jordanesque. LeBron, the best player on the planet, leads his team to ringzz!!!1!!!! It’d be hard for him to be the alpha dog in Miami, and his current brand image is predicated on that. That’s not to say it couldn’t change is some very intriguing ways. The Miami story, I’d guess, would be more along the lines of LeBron joining a modern day imitation of the Auerbach era Celtics and gunning for Phil Jackson. I have to say that’d be interesting as all hell. But it doesn’t seem to fit with the LeBron we know so far.

]]>By: danvthttp://KnickerBlogger.Net/772010-comment-spillover/#comment-292795
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:00:03 +0000http://www.knickerblogger.net/?p=4021#comment-292795Ted,
They did provide the powder, but you’re right. I can’t really fault them. It’s surprising, though, that Bosh did not want to go there even for way more money. If they lose LeBron, they’re culpable. They made the move for Shaq, which did not pan out and at the end, one bad move, at least. Though, that being said they were right there at the end last year. So, maybe he does pick Cleveland, at least we have a reasonable power structure in the East. NYK gets Amare, Lee and a decent PG + some room to maneuver later.
]]>By: David Crocketthttp://KnickerBlogger.Net/772010-comment-spillover/#comment-292794
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:59:47 +0000http://www.knickerblogger.net/?p=4021#comment-292794I’ve gone back and forth about the hour-long TV special (rather than releasing his decision on his website then holding a presser the next day in the city of his choosing). I don’t usually on instinct find such things inherently distasteful. This is clearly about brand-building, so I’m not opposed on principle. But, I’m not sure it’s worth it for two reasons.

1. Unless the league is expanding to Greenwich between now and tomorrow, he won’t begin his brand’s story in its “natural” setting. And although that’s hardly a fatal strategic faux pas…

2. He runs the substantial risk of escalating the unavoidable backlash from whomever is left as bridesmaids going from “annoying” to “blown completely out of any semblance of proportion.”

The issue for LeBron–a global brand on his way to *iconic* status–is that the process of going from brand to icon can be symbolically speaking quite violent. Brands have multiple authors telling multiple stories about the brand, and most of them are “unauthorized”. The process of becoming an icon involves all those authors competing for a kind of negotiated consensus about what the brand represents or symbolizes. That “negotiation” often isn’t pretty. Sometimes the process is relatively smooth, like it was for Michael Jordan. For LeBron however, the process is likely to be far more disruptive than it was for Jordan. Both the NBA and sports media are very different now.

Should LeBron leave Cleveland, he will inevitably face backlash from those disappointed that “local boy makes good in his hometown” will not be the brand’s story. That’s not insignificant, but hardly insurmountable. It is to be expected.

On the other hand, should he leave NY at the alter after shooting his announcement in the tri-state area he creates new backlash. Filming an hour-long event (even with the donation to charity) in the NY area just to say he’s not coming would flirt with cartoonish super-villiany. Knick fans and the NY media only “hate” opposing great players in the theatrical sense that they wear the black hats. LeBron might risk turning from disappointed-but-mostly-inward-looking to united-to-destroy-a-common-foe.

I think it’s a big difference because LeBron has played his whole career as a Cav and is the biggest thing in Cleveland since Rockefeller (who took his company’s headquarters to NYC I believe). It’s not just the Cavs that have made this plea, it’s been the cities of Akron and Canton themselves. The people, the governments, the local businesses… The Cavs have also done what they can to keep him leading up to this point. Their sales pitch may not have as much impact as others since they’ve had years to sell him and he knows the organization very well.

It comes across as a little desperate, but their #1 sales pitch to LeBron is loyalty and home and him being King of Cleveland. In NE Ohio he is like Jeter, Babe Ruth, Eli Manning, Strahan, Rex Ryan, David Lee, Bloomberg, Spike Lee, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Goldman Sachs, A-Rod, etc., etc. all rolled into one. What Joe Mauer is to Minnesota and more. I really can’t blame the people for begging him to stay.

Dan Gilbert, in fact, has not really cow-toed to LeBron. He didn’t consult LeBron in hiring a new coach or firing Brown apparently. Lebron apparently liked Danny Ferry, who Gilbert fired anyway. If anything I would criticize Gilbert for not bending over backwards more for LeBron.

And they still haven’t lost him. If he announces he’s staying then who cares if they looked pathetic in the process.

]]>By: jbug187http://KnickerBlogger.Net/772010-comment-spillover/#comment-292780
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:34:00 +0000http://www.knickerblogger.net/?p=4021#comment-292780@100 hey i like the recent news as much as the next knickerblogger, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. we aren’t out of the woods yet.
]]>By: ess-doghttp://KnickerBlogger.Net/772010-comment-spillover/#comment-292777
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:25:33 +0000http://www.knickerblogger.net/?p=4021#comment-292777Man the slap-fight over Carlos Boozer is going to get interesting once LBJ’s off the board. It sounds like he’s visiting more places than Lebron…
]]>By: Frank O.http://KnickerBlogger.Net/772010-comment-spillover/#comment-292774
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:23:45 +0000http://www.knickerblogger.net/?p=4021#comment-292774I need a tranquilizer…
or a shot of gin
]]>By: danvthttp://KnickerBlogger.Net/772010-comment-spillover/#comment-292773
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:21:07 +0000http://www.knickerblogger.net/?p=4021#comment-292773Cleveland has spun this thing completely wrong. Providing fans with powder, etc. and begging LeBron to come back. They need to learn a lesson from Walsh and say (even if it isn’t true), “Hey, this is not about one player. We are indebted to LBJ for bringing legitimacy back to this franchise. We have made every attempt to keep him but wish him well should he chose to go. Meanwhile, we have a nice core and a good cap situation, etc.” The Cavaliers being stupid and putting their eggs in one basket and relying on guilt as their sales pitch has been what has put them, and their city, in this position.
]]>By: taggart4800http://KnickerBlogger.Net/772010-comment-spillover/#comment-292771
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:16:12 +0000http://www.knickerblogger.net/?p=4021#comment-292771Markets deal is kinda convincing… such a swift turnaround
]]>By: Ted Nelsonhttp://KnickerBlogger.Net/772010-comment-spillover/#comment-292770
Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:13:20 +0000http://www.knickerblogger.net/?p=4021#comment-292770I spoke to some people from NE Ohio who were in Greece, a relatively big basketball country, and were trying to talk to a cab driver who said he knows Cleveland about LeBron… Guy had no idea who LeBron is. That’s an extremely small sample (of 1), but LeBron really isn’t a global brand yet to the degree he could be. A few rings would probably do that for him even in Cleveland, but NYC can also do that… I’m getting a bit excited, but don’t want to expect anything…
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